2025/26 Ins & Outs Discussion

[texanwellfan]

13 minutes ago, grizzlyg said:

Getting Sparrow on extended deal good business also, joint top scorer and great energy

He strikes me as a player suited to high pressing game. 

[wellsince75]

25 minutes ago, grizzlyg said:

Getting Sparrow on extended deal good business also, joint top scorer and great energy

Good point - I’d forgotten about that one . 👍

[wellgirl]

2 hours ago, wellsince75 said:

Makes sense , hadn’t realised MC was now in 20s .

Overall so far it’s a bit underwhelming as we have a lack of pace, guile and resigned a few mediocre players some of which unlikely to have much game time . 

Slattery aside , there’s not many resigning that make me think ‘oh good - I look forward to seeing them play’

appreciate some need of continuity , seasoned pros etc but we need to leave plenty of room for new blood. 

Sir Callum Slattery 😏

[robsterwood]

Think we needed clear out. Wouldn't have extended Halliday or ODonnell.. 

I'm ok with Sparrow.

Think we need more pace in team and attacking flair. I'm hoping Wimmer has contacts but it don't look like it if he's just extending contracts of some if team that been part of worst well side in years.

[grizzlyg]

1 hour ago, texanwellfan said:

He strikes me as a player suited to high pressing game. 

Especially on the wing........cue........ba boom.

[twistandshout1983]

Happy enough with Halliday signing , think we do need a clear out this summer but Halliday has earned it I think

Hopefully we will clear out some of the deadwood and the Wimmer will bring in a few new faces 

[joewarkfanclub]

No issues with the Halliday extension on its own. As others have said he has earned it with the minutes he has played and some decent performances, obviously we need some experienced heads around. Im just concerned that with SOD and possibly McGinn also being extended we could end up in a similar position injury wise next season.

If Wimmer wants his high press next season we are gonna need younger fitter players who wont break down under the stress of what they are being asked to do.

With Nicholson, Robinson AND Stama also under contract, the space to bring in new talent is already looking limited.

Ward? If he is happy being back up to Ox, I guess thats fine. I would be annoyed if we offer Balcombe a contract as well.....

[smiddy]

Wait till the boss brings in the top players from the german 2 nd division and they turn out to be superstars then we sell them to engerland  for millions

kettlewelll n bair will only be a memory

or the germans will be journeymen and shite at best and we are fighting relegation next year

time will tell 

 

[weeyin]

20 minutes ago, smiddy said:

Wait till the boss brings in the top players from the german 2 nd division and they turn out to be superstars then we sell them to engerland  for millions

kettlewelll n bair will only be a memory

or the germans will be journeymen and shite at best and we are fighting relegation next year

time will tell 

 

Or neither of these things.

Maybe he'll bring in players that are quite good and we do quite well.

[Mad Dog]

Maybe he'll go with a smaller squad and use our best youngsters.

[wellfan]

Any Motherwell manager who relies on brining in numerous loanees each season in favour of developing the Club’s own youth players is not working in the long term interests of the Club.

There is obviously a balance to be struck, particularly when the first team is blighted with injuries and there isn’t enough youth players ready, but the latter will remain the case without development opportunities being consistently offered, and the former is bad luck and bad recruitment policy. 

The amount of loanees we have signed this season is not acceptable. It stifles opportunities and sends the wrong signals. I challenge anyone to argue that the likes of Plange, Dickson, Thompson, Tavares, for example, are better options than Wells, Ferrie, L. Ross, Wilson, for example. 

We should be running with a smaller squad of better first team players (quality over quantity) and have a crop of youth players baked into the manager’s ideas, every season, and particularly to cover injuries and rest others. We’re a selling club and we do well from developing our own, both financially and performance wise. I hope Wimmer shares my views. 

[Kmcalpin]

1 hour ago, wellfan said:

Any Motherwell manager who relies on brining in numerous loanees each season in favour of developing the Club’s own youth players is not working in the long term interests of the Club.

There is obviously a balance to be struck, particularly when the first team is blighted with injuries and there isn’t enough youth players ready, but the latter will remain the case without development opportunities being consistently offered, and the former is bad luck and bad recruitment policy. 

The amount of loanees we have signed this season is not acceptable. It stifles opportunities and sends the wrong signals. I challenge anyone to argue that the likes of Plange, Dickson, Thompson, Tavares, for example, are better options than Wells, Ferrie, L. Ross, Wilson, for example. 

We should be running with a smaller squad of better first team players (quality over quantity) and have a crop of youth players baked into the manager’s ideas, every season, and particularly to cover injuries and rest others. We’re a selling club and we do well from developing our own, both financially and performance wise. I hope Wimmer shares my views. 

I agree with that, but really don't know much about which youngsters are ready to step up, if indeed there any. The organisation of youth football has a lot to answer for, but thats a separate debate. I've heard of the likes of Wells, Ross and Whyte, but thats about it. 

Hopefully there are some about to fledge. Long term developing our own youths is the only way forward. To balance that we need a sprinkling of old heads like Halliday to show them the ropes.

[thewelllfan]

The only youngsters who seem close are Luca Ross and Dylan Wells we've got a boy who's consistently getting in the Scotland U17s so he's probably decent as well.

[dennyc]

2 hours ago, wellfan said:

Any Motherwell manager who relies on brining in numerous loanees each season in favour of developing the Club’s own youth players is not working in the long term interests of the Club.

There is obviously a balance to be struck, particularly when the first team is blighted with injuries and there isn’t enough youth players ready, but the latter will remain the case without development opportunities being consistently offered, and the former is bad luck and bad recruitment policy. 

The amount of loanees we have signed this season is not acceptable. It stifles opportunities and sends the wrong signals. I challenge anyone to argue that the likes of Plange, Dickson, Thompson, Tavares, for example, are better options than Wells, Ferrie, L. Ross, Wilson, for example. 

We should be running with a smaller squad of better first team players (quality over quantity) and have a crop of youth players baked into the manager’s ideas, every season, and particularly to cover injuries and rest others. We’re a selling club and we do well from developing our own, both financially and performance wise. I hope Wimmer shares my views. 

I agree 100% with your comments re strategy but worry that it will take several years to rebuild a youth programme that has been diminished over a number of seasons under several Managers.

Certainly the Loanee numbers are farcical and those you highlight are certainly no better than the youth quoted. But that bar is pretty low. And unless they have improved leaps and bounds I'm not sure any of the current crop are first team standard, or have that potential. Wilson looked to be the best of the lot but he has fallen off a cliff of late, although I believe he can bounce back given strong support. The players currently out on loan are doing ok, but no more than that.

I guess what I am saying is that, like the first team, the youth squad has been weakened over a number of seasons and it will take quite some time for both squads to be rebuilt to an effective standard. I suspect that long term aim was why Wimmer was chosen for the job in the first place. It will be interesting to see whether he makes changes to the coaching staff at several levels over the summer. I know a few think Wimmer will move on at season end no matter what, but I hope he stays and is given scope to develop a coherent strategy that covers all age groups. A complete reset is required.

In my opinion anyway. Others will disagree.

[wellgirl]

1 hour ago, thewelllfan said:

The only youngsters who seem close are Luca Ross and Dylan Wells we've got a boy who's consistently getting in the Scotland U17s so he's probably decent as well.

Zander Mcallister 

[joewarkfanclub]

3 hours ago, wellfan said:

Any Motherwell manager who relies on brining in numerous loanees each season in favour of developing the Club’s own youth players is not working in the long term interests of the Club.

There is obviously a balance to be struck, particularly when the first team is blighted with injuries and there isn’t enough youth players ready, but the latter will remain the case without development opportunities being consistently offered, and the former is bad luck and bad recruitment policy. 

The amount of loanees we have signed this season is not acceptable. It stifles opportunities and sends the wrong signals. I challenge anyone to argue that the likes of Plange, Dickson, Thompson, Tavares, for example, are better options than Wells, Ferrie, L. Ross, Wilson, for example. 

We should be running with a smaller squad of better first team players (quality over quantity) and have a crop of youth players baked into the manager’s ideas, every season, and particularly to cover injuries and rest others. We’re a selling club and we do well from developing our own, both financially and performance wise. I hope Wimmer shares my views. 

100% agree.

Kinda hoping that this is one of the main reasons for going for someone like Wimmer who has a strong background in youth development.

Otherwise whats the point of thinking outside the box?

[joewarkfanclub]

I should add, that I dont have any problem with loanees in certain circumstances.

For example to cover a short term injury when we dont have a player of sufficient standard on our books (Furlong / Gent) or the player coming in is of a standard we couldnt afford to bring in on a full time contract (Mika Biereth)

But the loanees this season have barely contributed, so they clearly havent hit the levels required of them.

[weeyin]

I think we injured most of our loanees at some point didn't we? No favouritism in our training regime.

[Spit_It_Out]

Just now, joewarkfanclub said:

I should add, that I dont have any problem with loanees in certain circumstances.

For example to cover a short term injury when we dont have a player of sufficient standard on our books (Furlong / Gent) or the player coming in is of a standard we couldnt afford to bring in on a full time contract (Mika Biereth)

But the loanees this season have barely contributed, so they clearly havent hit the levels required of them.

They have been shocking so so poor it's like Kettlewell sat down with Daws and just said aye sign him,him and him and this is from manager that always went on about only going to sign players that enhance/improve the squad hahaha.

Worst two transfer windows I have witnessed.Signed a ton of players that never improved us one bit lol.

 

 

[grizzlyg]

1 hour ago, Spit_It_Out said:

They have been shocking so so poor it's like Kettlewell sat down with Daws and just said aye sign him,him and him and this is from manager that always went on about only going to sign players that enhance/improve the squad hahaha.

Worst two transfer windows I have witnessed.Signed a ton of players that never improved us one bit lol.

 

 

sign him, good project and will be the next Bair was probably discussion had 🤣🤣

 

[grizzlyg]

On 4/29/2025 at 3:44 PM, Spiderpig said:

Aye that's my view as well, McGregor for player of the year and Engels for the young players,. Rangers only got Igamane nominated to keep them sweet no chance he'll win though.

Hope Robbie Williams isn't at event and has the deciding vote.  After praising Miller he'll vote for Engels instead!!!

Apologies......will report myself to the admin team 🤪🤪

[weeyin]

47 minutes ago, Spit_It_Out said:

Worst two transfer windows I have witnessed.Signed a ton of players that never improved us one bit lol.

At least they didn't put them all on the same tractor.

 

[Spiderpig]

1 hour ago, grizzlyg said:

Hope Robbie Williams isn't at event and has the deciding vote.  After praising Miller he'll vote for Engels instead!!!

Apologies......will report myself to the admin team 🤪🤪

🤦‍♂️ end of season, nothing to play for vibe with that effort.

[wellon]

6 hours ago, dennyc said:

I agree 100% with your comments re strategy but worry that it will take several years to rebuild a youth programme that has been diminished over a number of seasons under several Managers.

Certainly the Loanee numbers are farcical and those you highlight are certainly no better than the youth quoted. But that bar is pretty low. And unless they have improved leaps and bounds I'm not sure any of the current crop are first team standard, or have that potential. Wilson looked to be the best of the lot but he has fallen off a cliff of late, although I believe he can bounce back given strong support. The players currently out on loan are doing ok, but no more than that.

I guess what I am saying is that, like the first team, the youth squad has been weakened over a number of seasons and it will take quite some time for both squads to be rebuilt to an effective standard. I suspect that long term aim was why Wimmer was chosen for the job in the first place. It will be interesting to see whether he makes changes to the coaching staff at several levels over the summer. I know a few think Wimmer will move on at season end no matter what, but I hope he stays and is given scope to develop a coherent strategy that covers all age groups. A complete reset is required.

In my opinion anyway. Others will disagree.

What's this with wimmer moving on? First I've heard...

[dennyc]

1 minute ago, wellon said:

What's this with wimmer moving on? First I've heard...

Just chat on here previously. Nothing based on fact. Just a 'feeling' one or two folk had. I took it with a pinch of salt.